The Cinema Murder

nd shouted "Come in." He had no occasion to hesitate for a moment. He knew perfectly well where he was, he remembered exactly everything tha

to speak to you, sir," he announced. "I have c

Philip repeated. "

Romilly he asked for. H

es, I b

nt he sat and thought. The situation was perplexing, in a sense o

's that?" h

s the reply, in a man'

as Ro

es

ote me last night from Leicester that you would be here th

mained mo

admitted c

nd look here, Mr. Romilly, in any case I want you to lunch with me at

am very busy this morning,

ly want to have a chat with you on business matters, Mr.

hat it is you want

on a buying tour. Our last advices don't indicate a very easy market over there. I am

imself. The situation, after all, h

rangements are all made now, though

. See here, I'll just run round to see you. My car is waitin

e," Philip begged. "I sh

l hope to induce you to change your mind about luncheon. It

op of perspiration on his forehead. It was the sort of thing, this, which he had expected-had been prepared for, in

any breakfast,

time i

ast nin

e and rolls and butt

n he lit a cigarette, repacked his dressing-case, and descended i

is my name-and I may not be able to get back here before my boat sails

l mean

"Those in my bedroom-number sixty-seven-are for the ca

e man assured him pocketing his liberal

e one else passing-some one to whom those clothes belonged. Then he remembered, remembered with a cold shiver which blanched his cheeks and brought a little agonised murmur to his lips. The moment passed, however, crushed down, stifled as he had sworn that he would stifle all such memories. He turned in a

ly tell Mr. Gayes, if he calls to see me, that I hav

ad, after all, only a very imperfect hold upon his own identity. It seemed impossible that he, Philip Romilly, should be there, ordering precisely what appealed to him most, without thought or care of the cost. He ate and drank slowly and with discrimination, and when he left the place he felt s

sir, before your luggage com

tion continually, started violently whenever he heard an unexpected footstep behind him. Finally he broke a promise he had made to himself. He bought newspapers, took them into a sheltered corner, and tore them open. Column by column he searched them through feverishly, running his finger down one side and up the next. It seemed impossible to find nowhere the heading he dreaded to see, to

r," he said. "Telegram

stood for several moments perfectly still. He looked at the insc

ng. Am posting a few final particulars to Waldorf Hot

eared up one point on which he had been anxious and unsettled. It was taken for granted at the Works, then, that he had

his way back down to his stateroom, which was already filled with his luggage. He shook out an ulster from a bundle of wraps, and selected a tweed cap. Already there was a faint touch of the se

number

"Mr. Romilly has just gone down. You've only a m

over the telephone that morning replied. "I'd just l

of finding the next stateroom empty, as it happened to be, and stepped quickly inside. He kept his back to the door until the footsteps had passed. He heard the knock at his stateroom, stepped bac

e shore! Last cal

" he begged the steward, wh

. They were moving! He sprang up and hurried to the doorway. Slowly but unmistakably they were gliding away from the dock. Already a lengthening line of people were waving their handkerchiefs and shouting farewells. Around them i

the steamer started, sir," he announced, "gentleman o

answered. "I must h

ed around and po

grey suit, and a bunch of violets in his

ter a moment's hesitation, the other man did the same.

right," he remarked as he dis

with a little fin

him altogether," he

, Mr. Gayes! Go